Control means for radio apparatus



June 13, 1933. H. HoLLERlTH, JR' 1,914,018

CONTROL MEANS FOR RADIO APPARATUS Original Filed April 50. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 61H0: nev

June 13,' 1933. H. HoLLERlrH, JR 1,914,018

CONTROL MEANS FOR RADIO APPARATUS Original Filed April 30, 19425 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z 'Z l www",

June 13,11933. H. HOLLERITH, JR 1,914,018

CONTROL MEANS FOR RADIO APPARATUS Original Filed April 30. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 uennllmnlln'llum 'Patented June 13, 1933 o UNITI-:n STATES PATENT ePrice- Hama. nonmnarrn, In., or mv'mron, naw JERSEY, assioma, BY man aszenxnnfrs 'ro mxo conrona'rron or 'Horror Dmwm f AIEBICLEF NEW YORK. N. Y., A. CQIBPOBA( C 0NTBOL- HEANS FOR m10 APPARATUS pappumin nea apra so, m5, semi 110.21003. nenewea ocober si, 1931.

This invention relates to radio or wireless telegraphA apparatus, and more particularly to means for adjusting variable reactors of the type employedl in such apparatus.

Radio receiving instruments comprisin a plurality of circuitswhich include varia le wpossible to independently a reactors, and, slnce4 it is practically reactors, such, for example, as condensers, have heretofore been rovided with a shaft common to the movablh elements of each of said reactors, whereby the latter ma be simultaneouslyadjusted to tune the sai circuits. For the mostfpart, however, radio receiving instruments are provided with a plurality of widely separated and independently operable members for use in separately tuning the various circuits.

ln the lirst-named arran ement it is imjust the various impossible to construct two reactors having identical characteristics throughout the range of adjustment, and 'since very minute differences in adjustment of the reactors in some circuitsl may cause relativel `great differences in the operation of the instrument, the use of a common control shaft has not proven entirely satisfactory. Moreover, if the re- 'ceivinginstrument is so constructed that certain reactors may be simultaneously adjusted with satisfactory results, it ma be pro- Avided with one or more additiona variable reactors which are preferabl adjusted in dependently of the first-name group.

The use of independently operable and widely separated y'adjusting members for each of the variable reactors employed is objectionable due to the increased cost of the apparatus, the difficulty and time consumed in tunin and the resulting increase in the size of t e instrument.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device whereby a plurality of reactors may be equally and simultaneously adjusted by a single manual operation, and yet one which is so constructed that the controloradjusting members, with their associated reactors, are not connected, and are independently operable throughout the entire range of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact .arrangement of parts whereby two reactors or two groups of reactors may be simultaneously operated and yet in-- dependently adjusted throughout their operative range.

Another vobject of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described with a novel arrangement of indicator dials for indicating the predetermined positions to which the reactors should be adjusted in order to tune the receiving instrument to a desired wave length or station.

A vfurther object is to provide novel means :for transmitting motion from the adjusting members or thumb wheels to the reactors to be adjustedand the indicator dials. These and other objects will appear more fully hereinafter.

Three forms which the inventive idea may assume are shown in the accompanying drawings, which drawings, however, are for the purpose of illustration onlyI and are not to be taken as defining the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In'the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view illustrating the another embodiment of the invention;

. Fig. 7 is a to plan view of the arrangement shown in ig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating one form of stop means that ma be employed.

Referring to the reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, 1 isa support or panel of any vsuitable type such'as isfusuallyemployed in radio receiving instruments.- ,This

rawings wherein like in the center of the opening below the cover 36. In the form shown this member comprisesa U-shaped wire 38 secured at its opposite ends to the cover plate 35.

If it is desired to simultaneously and equally Vary the reactances, the operator'may rotate both of the wheels 24 and 26 by a single finger placed on the two Wheels. Therotation of the latter is transmitted through pulleys 23 and 25, members 27, pulleys l1 and 13, and shafts 10 to the movable plates of the `condensers. Differences in the adjustment that must be made to compensate for the inherent diiierences -that always exist between two condensers or other types of reactances, or relative angular adjustments that must be introduced between the condensers to compensate for differences in the other elements of the circuits being tuned, are readily made by independent rotation of one of the thumb Wheels, since the latter are not inter-connected.

When the instrument has been adjusted to the desired Wave length or station, the transparent cover 36. 37 may be raised and a distinguishin mark inscribed on the peripheries of the dia s 15, 16 ,in alignment with thc marker or pointer 38. Thereafter the circuits may be quickly tuned to any one of a number .of stations in a simple and expeditious manner.

The general arrangement of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure v the rotary movement' of the indicator drums 5 is similar to that of the first embodiment described. As shown each thumb wheel 24, 26 has motion transmitting means which comprises a pinion 39 rotatably mounted on the rod 18 and rigidly connected in any desired manner to the corresponding thumb wheel 24, 26, and this pinion meshes withl a gear 40 that is'rigidly secured in any desired manner to the corresponding indicator drum 15, 16 and shaft 10. In order to provide an extremely compact device the drums 15, 16 are provided adjacent their peripheries with arcuate slots 41 which extend through an angle of slightly more than 180.. -The rod 18 carrying the thumb wheels 24, 26 extends through the registering slots 41 and is supported in the frame plates 5 inany suitable manner as has previously been described. Rotation of the thumb wheels 24, 26 is transmitted by the pinions and gears to the respective drums and rotatable elements or shafts 10- in a manner that will be readily understood. The rod 18 and slots 41 constitute stop means for limiting and it will therefore be apparent that the lat- -ter need not extend throughl 360. This 35 plates 5, constitutes a support for the rotatof each of the thumb wheels and these gears mesh with ears 47 rigidly secured to the inner ends ofg'the shafts 10. Preferably gears 46, 47 have a. ratio of one to two whereby rotation of the wheels 42, 43 and consequently drums 44,45 through 360 results in a rotation of shafts 10 through 180. A cover plate 48 (Fig. 7) is preferably secured to the upper surface of panel 1. Through suitable openings in this cover plate project the lthumb wheels 42, 43 and between the latter the plate is provided with'suitable pointers 49 for indicating the position of adjustment of the drums 44, 45. If desired, stop means may be provided for limiting the rotation ofthe r0- tatable elements. As shown in Fig. 8 gears 47 may be provided with a small pin 50 secured in any suitable manner, as by means of solder, between a pair of its teeth for this purpose.l

There is thus provided a very compact apparatus for controlling the adjustment of a pair of variable reactors or two groups of reactors. Moreover, it will be seenthat one thumb wheel may be employed for adjusting a single reactance while the other thumb Wheel is employed for adjusting a plurality of reactors. The indicators are closely adjacent and may be easily read. Due to the contiguous mount-v way of example only. Reference ,is there- .fore to be had to the appended claims for a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A device of the class described comprising a panel, variable reactors having rotatable elements mounted at the rear of said panel, a pair of concentricallyl mounted Wheels extending partially through the panel at right angles thereto, -a pair of juxtaposed indicator dials associated with said wheels and disposed in planes at right angles to said panel, and means for transmitting rotary motion from said wheels to said rotatable elements. A j

2. A device of the class described comprisi'ng a panel having an opening therein, a pair of unconnected thumb wheels partially projecting through said opening, a plurality of reactors, a pair of closely adjacent indicators readablesimultaneously from a common index, and means whereby said reactors and indicators are severally adjustable by rotation of said wheels. v

3. A device ot the 'class described comprising a panel having an opening therein, a pair. of parallel thumb Wheels partially projecting through said opening, a pair of juxtaposed ing a panel, trarne plates, variable reactors having rotatable elements secured to said plates, a pair of wheels extending through. the panel, adjacent indicator dials comprising a drum associated with each of said wheels, removable record strips mounted on the periphery of each ot the drums, and means for transmitting rotary motion from said Wheels to said rotatable elements.

5. A device of the class described comprising a panel having an opening therein, trame plates mounted at the rear of said panel, variable reactors having rotatable elements secured to said plates, a pair of Wheels extending through the opening in said panel in planes at right angles to the latter, contiguous indicators associated With each of said wheels, removable strips carried by the peripheries of said indicators, means, :tor re -movably securlngsaid strlps to sa1d 1nd1cators and motion transmitting means interposed betvveen each Wheel and ment.

6. A device ot the class described comprising supporting means, variable reactors having rotatable elements secured thereto, a rod supported by said means, a pair of manually operable members rotatably mounted on said rod, indicators associated With each of said rotatable elernembers, and means for transmitting motion' `from each ott said membersA to separate rotat'able elements.

. 7. A device ofthe class described comprising supporting means, variable reactors having rotatable elements secured thereto, a rod supported by said means, a pair of manually operable members rotatably mounted on said rod, a pair of contiguous indicators oney associated with each of said members, and means 'for transmitting motion from each of said members to separate rotatable elements.

8. A device of the class described compris! ing, in combination with a panel, a plurality of reactors,means for adjusting said reactors, and means for operating said last-named means including a pair of closely adjacent remore ing, in combination with a panel, a plurality ot reactors, means for adjusting said reactors, means for operating said last-named means including a pair oil closely adjacent but unconnected rotatable thumb vvheels disposed in parallel planes, a portion of said Wheels projecting through an opening in said panel,

whereby they are capable of simultaneous adjustment by one linger or capable o indei Y pendent relative movement for separate adjustment, and a air ort indicators rotatable in adjacent para lel planes and respectively operated by the respective thumb vvheels.

l0. A device of the class described comprising a panel having an opening therein, a pair of closely adjacent but unconnected thumb Wheels projecting partially through said opening, whereby they are capable ot either independent adjustment or simultaneous adjustment by one finger, means on which said Wheels are concentrically mounted, a plurality of reactors, and means whereby said reactors are severally adjustable by rotation of said wheels. j 'v 11. A device of the class described comprising a panel having an opening therein, a pair actors, a plurality of indicators, means onn which said indicators are concentrically mounted for rotary movement and means whereby said reactors and indicators are sevverally adjustable by rotation of said Wheels.

12. A device of the class described comprising a panel having an opening therein, a pair of unconnected thumb Wheels projecting 'through said opening, whereby they are capable of either, independent adjustment or simultaneous adjustment by one linger, a plurality ot reactors, a pair of closely adjan cent indicatordrums, a common index for said drums, and means whereby said reactors and drums are severally adjustable by rotation of said Wheels. Y

13. A device of the class described comprising, in combination with a panel, a frame, a pair of closely adjacent thumb Wheels mounted for independent rotation in said frame, a portion of said Wheels projecting through an opening in said panel, a pair of shafts rotatablymounted in said trame, a pair of drums, each of said drums being connected to one of said shafts, and means for transmitting rotary movement :from the thumb Wheels to said shafts.

14C. A device of the class described comprising a support having openings therein, a frame, a rod rigidly secured to said trame, a pair of closely adjacent thumb Wheels mounted for independent rotary motion on said rod, a portion of said Wheels projecting through an opening in said support, a

ice l nel pair `of shafts mountedfor independent rotation in said frame, a drum oneach of said shafts, and means for transmitting rotary motion from thethumb wheels to said shafts. v

allel planes normal to the surface of said support and a portion of saidv wheels extending through one of the openings in said support, a pair of shafts mounted in said frame, a drum' secured to each of said shafts, said drums being mounted in planes parallel to said wheels vand in alinementl with prising a support having a pair of openingsk the other opening in said support, and means for transmitting vrotary movement from the wheels to said shafts.

16. A device of the class described comprising a support, a frame secured thereto, a pair of shafts independently journailled in said frame, drums secured to said shafts, said drums being disposed in parallel planes, a rod, a pair of wheels mounted for independent rotary movement on said rod, and means for transmitting rotary movement from the wheels to said shafts. v 17. A device of the class described comprising a support, a frame secured thereto, a pair of shafts independently journalled in said frame, drums secured to lsaid shafts, said drums being disposed in parallel lanes, a rod, a pair of wheels mounted or independent rotary movement on said rod, and means including a resilient member for transmitting movement from said wheels to said shafts.

18. A device ofthe class described comtherein, a frame, a pair of dlosely-adjacent wheelsl mounted for independent 'rotary movement on said frame, said wheels being P disposed in parallel planes and projecting through one of lthe'openings in said support, a pair of shafts carried bysaid frame,;re actance means secured to said shafts, drums carried by said shafts, said drums being mounted in planes parallel to said wheels, theA peripheries of said drums extending into the plane -of said support adjacent the other opening in said support, and 1motion transmitting means interposed between said wheels andshafts..

19. A device of the class described comprising a support'having a pair of openings therein, a frame secured to said support, a

pair of closely adjacent wheels mounted for openings, and meansZ for transmitting :motion from the' wheelsto -sai'd shafts. c

20.,.A device of the class desribd prising a support having an opening therein,

reactors having rotatable elements, and means for rotating each of said elements including a pair of parallel thumb Wheels operable through said opening, gearin lA,interrnediate saidwheels and elements, an ,parallel indicators secured to each of saidwheels..

21. A device of theclass described comf A prising a support, framemeans secured to said support, a reactor havinga rotatable element, secured to said frame means; a gear secured to said element, a rod mounted in said frame means, a wheel rotatably mounted on said rod, an indicator secured to said wheel,

and a pinion secured to said wheel andhav'- p ing operative engagement with 4said gear. 1

22. A device ofthe class described comi prising a support having an opening therein, means including aI pair of frame plates secured to the support, variable reactors having rotatable Aelements secured to said plates, a

rod mounted in said plates, wheelys'rotatably mounted on said rod, the peripheries of said wheels extending through said opening, a

drum secured to each of said wheels, andl mo'- j tion transmitting means interposed between the wheels and each of said rotatable elements whereby rotation of said wheels is transmitted to said elements in a two to one ratio.

23. A device of the class described com riss ing lsupporting means, variable reactors aving rotatable elements secured to said means, a rod carried by said means, a air of manually operable members rotatab y mounted on said rod, indicators for each of said manually operable members securedto the -inner faces of the latter and closely adjacent ne'to 'the other, inions secured to the outer faces of each of) said members, and gears vsecured to said rotatable elements in mesh with said inions.

24. A tuning device, comprising a Iframe, j. 4

said frame being a'dapted to'be secured to a panel, a plurality of wheels rotatably" coaxially mounted insaid frame independently of each other but with' their perlp eralsur'- faces in contiguous relation so as to be operable by the contact of a Single finger tip and so as to extend partially through a'n opening in said panel, a plurality of drums rotatably mounted in said frame, indicia on the peripheral surfaces of said drums, atuning ,l

element mounted in association with each of said drums, and means whereby said wheels are arranged to .actuate said drums and tuning elements.

25. A tuning device comprising a frame, said frame bein ada ted to be securedto a panel, a pluraht'y o wheels rotatably coaxially mounted in said frame independently of each other but with their Aperipheral surfaces in contiguous relation so as to beep-v i VH enable 'by tlie'contact of a'single linger tip' and so as to entend partially through an openingfin saidI panel, 'and "means whereby each otsaid'wheels is' arranged to actuate a re- 5 latdftllningrelement. i

2652i; tuning devicecomprising al trame, said `frame'being ada tedI tob-e secured to a panelgfaiplurali'tyfo wheels rotatabl coaially mounted in saiditrame inde en ently il facesl in eonti-nguous relation so as to be operable by thecon'tact of a single dinger tip and Vso as tol entend partially through an opening iri'saidpan'el, means whereby each ot said wheels is arranged to actuate a related tuning elemenhand means `for indicating the adjustment'oi said element. 27. fd' tunin device comprising a trame, said'l :trame being ada ted to be secured to a'panel, a plurality o wheels rotatably coair'ially mounted in said iframe independently et each'otherbut with their peripheral surylaces' in contiguous relation so as to be operable bythe contact of a. single hnger tip and soasfto extend partially through an opening in' said panel, peripheral means on each of saidf'wheels 'to :facilitateI rotation thereof by means ot, the linger tip,-and means whereby each of said wheels is arranged to actuate a related tuning element.

A' radio tuning apparatus comprising a plurality of condenser units mounted with their 'rotors in .alinernent and a controller ,.l, member connected to each rotor, said corn 35 'trdller members being mounted close together sothat theyrnay be operated by the move- 'Ifnent of one hand,"said' members and their rotors'jbeing independently operable and each requiring the 'application of external force iiirectly'to vits controller inorder to turn it, and asingletace plate through which an arc 1of 'eachcontroller member extends for diglil ital engagement. 29, A dial mechanism for radio receivers comprising, in combination, a dial adapted to be secured to an instrument shaft and carrying a pulley ofrelativel large diameter, a lrnob, pulleyv means' o substantially smaller 'diameter than said 'large pulley and connected to said lmob, and belt means con nected betweenthe pulley means and the pulley carried by the dial and lrictionally engaged between danges ofthe pulley means `i'r'rhereby when said linob is turned said dial willbe 'driven at a reduced .ratio through the 'medium of said belt, said belt mea-ns'having an end connected through spring means to 'said diaL s 30. A control mechanism for radio appa` ratus comprising, in combination, a control shaft, pulley means of relatively large diamed ter mounted on said shaft, pulley means ot 'substantially smaller diameter than said first named pulley means, dexible belt drive means .65 connected between said pulley means, whereot eachother but with their perip eral sur-y ige-reime by when said second named pulley means is turned said dial is positivel driven at a reduced ratio through the m ium ot said belt means, and spring tensioning means attached to said belt meansto exert a tension thereon at all times, said spring tensioning means being carried by and movable with said first named pulley means and said pulley means having an opening through w ich the belt means is carried into connection with the spring tensioning means.,

3l. Dial mechanism tor radio apparatus including, in combination, a dial member, pulley means carried thereby,y belt means connected with said pulley means in tric tional engagement therewlth, a portion of said belt means being secured out of trictional engagement with said pulley by con-Y nection with the dial whereby said portion ot the belt means moves therewith, and spring tension means in said connection.

32. ln dial mechanism for radio apparatus', the combination with a dial member and driven pulley means thereon, of driving means therefor including dexible belt means wrapped at least in part about said pulley means in contact with a surface thereof, a, portion of said tlexible belt means being withdrawn from contact with said surface, and sp1-ing tension means connected with the dial member tor applying tension to the dexible belt means through said withdrawn portion thereof.

33. lin an adjusting device 'for a variable reactor having a rotatable element, a driving pulley, adriven ulle connected to said rotatable element, exib e means forv con'- veying motion between said pulle s, said means being wrapped about said pul eys,'and means carried by the driven' pulley for main- "los taining said dezrible means under tension', said means being connected with a portion ot the denible motion conveying means withdrawn trom the wrapped position about the driven pulley and including a tension spring secured to said pulley.,

34. ln an adjusting device for variable ras dio tuning means having a rotatable element, the combination of? a driving pulley, a driin, en pulley connected to said rotatable elelw ment, denible means for conveying motion between said pulleys, and means ent: rely carried by the driven pulley for rotation there with, and connected between said pulleyand the llexlible motion `conveying means 1 for 320 maintaining said dexible motion conveying means under tension.

35. lin an adjusting device for variable radio tuning means having a. movable tuningelement, the combination of a movable riving member therefor, a movable dial member connected to said movable tuning element, llexible belt means tor conveying motion between said driving member and said dial member, and means entirely' car- 'im ried by the dialmember for rotation there-v with, said last named means being connected between said dial member and the iiexible belt means for maintaining said fiexible belt 5 means under tension.

36. In an adjusting device for variable Yradio tuning means having a movable'tuning element, the combination of a driving. palle an indicator drum connected to said .10 mova le tuning element, iiexible belt means for conveying motion between said Pulley and said drum, and means entirely cari-led by Athe Yindicator drum for rotation therewith, said last named means being connected be- ',15 tween said drum and the flexible belt means for maintaining said flexible belt means under tension. Y

In testimony whereof I have signed this speciiication. 2 HERMAN HOLLERITH, JR. Y 

